On and Off Broadway

The Country House

Reviewed by Elyse Trevers

Posted

The Country House is a stew of elements. Take a dash of The Seagull (with an aging diva and her playwright son), add a handful of Uncle Vanya (with an older man bringing his younger attractive companion to the country house where two other younger men fall for her), throw in a sprinkle of clever comments about theater and the performing arts and some insightful psychology for flavor, and you have a taste of Donald Margulies’ latest play.

The two-act play feels like two short plays in one. The first act has some sexual tension and comedy. Blythe Danner plays Anna Patterson, an aging celebrated actress who’s returned to her home in Williamstown to play in summer theater. It’s only a year after the death of her daughter, Kathy, from cancer. Joining Anna in the house is her granddaughter, Susie (Sarah Steele.) Anna’s son-in-law, Walter (David Rashe), brings his new girlfriend, Nell, along, not realizing that Cathy’s brother, Elliot, a failing actor, is in love with her. To compound matters, Anna invites Michael (Daniel Sunjata), a popular TV star, to stay in the house until his rented house is ready. Michael is extremely good-looking and all three women are attracted to him; all three men are attracted to Nell. This can’t go well, but it can be somewhat humorous.

The second act shifts and becomes somber and more introspective. Suddenly the focus is on Elliot (Eric Lange) and his mother, Anna. The tone is darker, less playful and, in reality, less entertaining. The Country House is a play that isn’t sure of what it wants to be.

The entire cast is fine, but Danner gets the final bow at the end of the play. She’s truly a star. From her first entrance flinging her scarf imperiously over her shoulder, she has our undivided attention. In the first act, all the characters wear dark or muted clothes, yet Danner is in lime green. But I think we’d notice her anyway.